Republicans, once ecstatic about the energy generated by the 2009 anti-spending tea party uprising, are growing increasingly uneasy about the impact in 2012 of a movement that seems beyond the control of anyone, including its own leaders.

The Tea Party is a Republican phenomenon; a really bad one for their party, which can no longer even have a pretense of moderation lest their members be "tea bagged" in a primary. The sad part is that there is truly no "there" there. The media and a few billionaires essentially co-opted the Tea Party in its infancy and continue to dominate its agenda. Now, these few unelected "leaders" leverage the media and the relatively small Tea Party membership to attack any Republican who dares deviate from their extreme positions.

It this trend continues, the Republicans will not be a national party in the next 4-8 years. As it stands, none of the presidential candidates who could actually defeat Obama (Romney, Huntsman) will be able to get passed the Tea Party, so they're defeating themselves.

Christian73 saidWhen you let the cat out of the bag, sometimes you get scratched.

The Tea Party is a Republican phenomenon; a really bad one for their party, which can no longer even have a pretense of moderation lest their members be "tea bagged" in a primary. The sad part is that there is truly no "there" there. The media and a few billionaires essentially co-opted the Tea Party in its infancy and continue to dominate its agenda. Now, these few unelected "leaders" leverage the media and the relatively small Tea Party membership to attack any Republican who dares deviate from their extreme positions.

It this trend continues, the Republicans will not be a national party in the next 4-8 years. As it stands, none of the presidential candidates who could actually defeat Obama (Romney, Huntsman) will be able to get passed the Tea Party, so they're defeating themselves.

Lol - more wishful thinking I see - or are you simply delusional? Best of luck with that. I think 2012's congressional races will be interesting. The Tea Party really isn't a Republican phenomenon and it is a good one for the party and the US instead of the tired partisanship, there's a greater interest in ideas and principles.

Christian73 saidWhen you let the cat out of the bag, sometimes you get scratched.

The Tea Party is a Republican phenomenon; a really bad one for their party, which can no longer even have a pretense of moderation lest their members be "tea bagged" in a primary. The sad part is that there is truly no "there" there. The media and a few billionaires essentially co-opted the Tea Party in its infancy and continue to dominate its agenda. Now, these few unelected "leaders" leverage the media and the relatively small Tea Party membership to attack any Republican who dares deviate from their extreme positions.

It this trend continues, the Republicans will not be a national party in the next 4-8 years. As it stands, none of the presidential candidates who could actually defeat Obama (Romney, Huntsman) will be able to get passed the Tea Party, so they're defeating themselves.

Lol - more wishful thinking I see - or are you simply delusional? Best of luck with that. I think 2012's congressional races will be interesting. The Tea Party really isn't a Republican phenomenon and it is a good one for the party and the US instead of the tired partisanship, there's a greater interest in ideas and principles.

Au contraire. I've been reading a LOT about the Tea Party, which you seem woefully misinformed about. You seem to think there's some organic grassroots movement out there, but there isn't. Rather it's an elaborate ruse orchestrated primarily by Republican standard bearers like Dick Armey, who are represent no one, and simply startle the horses into whinnying. They aren't even doing that very well anymore. The last Tea Party rally attracted 30 people. In South Carolina!

And the Tea Party is extremely partisan. Name one Democrat they've endorsed. And please do fill the rest of us in on all the "ideas and principles" and then I'll demonstrate for you how they're just a tired rehash of old far right platitudes under a new brand.

The Teaparty or Teabaggers ARE republicans were CREATED by republicans and have BECOME what's left of the republican party The Teaparty is what's know as an astroturf organization whereby groups funded by men like Dick Army Karl Rove and the Koch brothers wholly funded and backed the groups that made themand to deny that fact is just that ... denial

Christian73 saidWhen you let the cat out of the bag, sometimes you get scratched.

The Tea Party is a Republican phenomenon; a really bad one for their party, which can no longer even have a pretense of moderation lest their members be "tea bagged" in a primary. The sad part is that there is truly no "there" there. The media and a few billionaires essentially co-opted the Tea Party in its infancy and continue to dominate its agenda. Now, these few unelected "leaders" leverage the media and the relatively small Tea Party membership to attack any Republican who dares deviate from their extreme positions.

It this trend continues, the Republicans will not be a national party in the next 4-8 years. As it stands, none of the presidential candidates who could actually defeat Obama (Romney, Huntsman) will be able to get passed the Tea Party, so they're defeating themselves.

Lol - more wishful thinking I see - or are you simply delusional? Best of luck with that. I think 2012's congressional races will be interesting. The Tea Party really isn't a Republican phenomenon and it is a good one for the party and the US instead of the tired partisanship, there's a greater interest in ideas and principles.

Au contraire. I've been reading a LOT about the Tea Party, which you seem woefully misinformed about. You seem to think there's some organic grassroots movement out there, but there isn't. Rather it's an elaborate ruse orchestrated primarily by Republican standard bearers like Dick Armey, who are represent no one, and simply startle the horses into whinnying. They aren't even doing that very well anymore. The last Tea Party rally attracted 30 people. In South Carolina!

And the Tea Party is extremely partisan. Name one Democrat they've endorsed. And please do fill the rest of us in on all the "ideas and principles" and then I'll demonstrate for you how they're just a tired rehash of old far right platitudes under a new brand.

Walt Minnick (D) was endorsed by the tea partiers - which in itself, is a fairly loose movement. What's re-hash of "old ideas" are what Democrats and many Republicans continue to support. The natural state of government isn't smaller and deregulated, it is the idea it can solve all. That all it will take is more money, more programs, more control. Given current trends - and that independents are trending libertarian, this bodes very poorly for the traditional policies that the Democrats continue to flog.

The irony is that while those that believe that the Tea Party movement is controlled by billionaires who happen to be libertarian and to have given money that support their views, the left is dependent on those like George Soros and is increasingly unpopular. So good luck pissing in the wind

Unfortunately for you.... I live and work in the U.S.of A.. That means I get to hear, not read, from the common folk (voters) and word is that the 'tea party' is now beginning to be a pariah to most Americans.Oh well........

Christian73 saidWhen you let the cat out of the bag, sometimes you get scratched.

The Tea Party is a Republican phenomenon; a really bad one for their party, which can no longer even have a pretense of moderation lest their members be "tea bagged" in a primary. The sad part is that there is truly no "there" there. The media and a few billionaires essentially co-opted the Tea Party in its infancy and continue to dominate its agenda. Now, these few unelected "leaders" leverage the media and the relatively small Tea Party membership to attack any Republican who dares deviate from their extreme positions.

It this trend continues, the Republicans will not be a national party in the next 4-8 years. As it stands, none of the presidential candidates who could actually defeat Obama (Romney, Huntsman) will be able to get passed the Tea Party, so they're defeating themselves.

Lol - more wishful thinking I see - or are you simply delusional? Best of luck with that. I think 2012's congressional races will be interesting. The Tea Party really isn't a Republican phenomenon and it is a good one for the party and the US instead of the tired partisanship, there's a greater interest in ideas and principles.

Au contraire. I've been reading a LOT about the Tea Party, which you seem woefully misinformed about. You seem to think there's some organic grassroots movement out there, but there isn't. Rather it's an elaborate ruse orchestrated primarily by Republican standard bearers like Dick Armey, who are represent no one, and simply startle the horses into whinnying. They aren't even doing that very well anymore. The last Tea Party rally attracted 30 people. In South Carolina!

And the Tea Party is extremely partisan. Name one Democrat they've endorsed. And please do fill the rest of us in on all the "ideas and principles" and then I'll demonstrate for you how they're just a tired rehash of old far right platitudes under a new brand.

Walt Minnick (D) was endorsed by the tea partiers - which in itself, is a fairly loose movement. What's re-hash of "old ideas" are what Democrats and many Republicans continue to support. The natural state of government isn't smaller and deregulated, it is the idea it can solve all. That all it will take is more money, more programs, more control. Given current trends - and that independents are trending libertarian, this bodes very poorly for the traditional policies that the Democrats continue to flog.

The irony is that while those that believe that the Tea Party movement is controlled by billionaires who happen to be libertarian and to have given money that support their views, the left is dependent on those like George Soros and is increasingly unpopular. So good luck pissing in the wind

Riddler - what these liberals are spinning about the origins of the tea parties is pure BS. During the earlier times, the liberals made fun of the disorganization and assumed impotence of the groups. As they became a potent force, their tune changed, retroactively, I might add. These guys here are now spouting disinformation to take the spotlight off Soros. Whether they believe it or not doesn't matter. It's BS just the same and not worth your time even discussing it with them.

Christian73 saidWhen you let the cat out of the bag, sometimes you get scratched.

The Tea Party is a Republican phenomenon; a really bad one for their party, which can no longer even have a pretense of moderation lest their members be "tea bagged" in a primary. The sad part is that there is truly no "there" there. The media and a few billionaires essentially co-opted the Tea Party in its infancy and continue to dominate its agenda. Now, these few unelected "leaders" leverage the media and the relatively small Tea Party membership to attack any Republican who dares deviate from their extreme positions.

It this trend continues, the Republicans will not be a national party in the next 4-8 years. As it stands, none of the presidential candidates who could actually defeat Obama (Romney, Huntsman) will be able to get passed the Tea Party, so they're defeating themselves.

Lol - more wishful thinking I see - or are you simply delusional? Best of luck with that. I think 2012's congressional races will be interesting. The Tea Party really isn't a Republican phenomenon and it is a good one for the party and the US instead of the tired partisanship, there's a greater interest in ideas and principles.

Au contraire. I've been reading a LOT about the Tea Party, which you seem woefully misinformed about. You seem to think there's some organic grassroots movement out there, but there isn't. Rather it's an elaborate ruse orchestrated primarily by Republican standard bearers like Dick Armey, who are represent no one, and simply startle the horses into whinnying. They aren't even doing that very well anymore. The last Tea Party rally attracted 30 people. In South Carolina!

And the Tea Party is extremely partisan. Name one Democrat they've endorsed. And please do fill the rest of us in on all the "ideas and principles" and then I'll demonstrate for you how they're just a tired rehash of old far right platitudes under a new brand.

Walt Minnick (D) was endorsed by the tea partiers - which in itself, is a fairly loose movement. What's re-hash of "old ideas" are what Democrats and many Republicans continue to support. The natural state of government isn't smaller and deregulated, it is the idea it can solve all. That all it will take is more money, more programs, more control. Given current trends - and that independents are trending libertarian, this bodes very poorly for the traditional policies that the Democrats continue to flog.

The irony is that while those that believe that the Tea Party movement is controlled by billionaires who happen to be libertarian and to have given money that support their views, the left is dependent on those like George Soros and is increasingly unpopular. So good luck pissing in the wind

Riddler - what these liberals are spinning about the origins of the tea parties is pure BS. During the earlier times, the liberals made fun of the disorganization and assumed impotence of the groups. As they became a potent force, their tune changed, retroactively, I might add. These guys here are now spouting disinformation to take the spotlight off Soros. Whether they believe it or not doesn't matter. It's BS just the same and not worth your time even discussing it with them.

Here, just for your reading pleasure:

Various polls have also probed Tea Party supporters for their views on a variety of political and controversial issues. A University of Washington poll of 1,695 registered voters in the State of Washington reported that 73% of Tea Party supporters disapprove of Obama's policy of engaging with Muslim countries, 88% approve of the controversial immigration law recently enacted in Arizona, 82% do not believe that gay and lesbian couples should have the legal right to marry, and that about 52% believed that "lesbians and gays have too much political power".http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tea_Party_movement

Various polls have also probed Tea Party supporters for their views on a variety of political and controversial issues. A University of Washington poll of 1,695 registered voters in the State of Washington reported that 73% of Tea Party supporters disapprove of Obama's policy of engaging with Muslim countries, 88% approve of the controversial immigration law recently enacted in Arizona, 82% do not believe that gay and lesbian couples should have the legal right to marry, and that about 52% believed that "lesbians and gays have too much political power".http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tea_Party_movement

I need to travel for work to the US frequently and I have family down in a very blue state so I'm quite familiar with both the popularity and derision that some have for tea party movement. Besides, Canada is practically a blue state.

That said, you're right - on a lot of social issues Tea Partiers lean conservative but the reality is that they are still independent and representative of the larger population even if some in the media has consistently painted them in a negative light because it is a movement they do not understand - or even care to understand. The media however has consistently skewed liberal which isn't terribly surprising given that they do self identify as liberal.

But consider two issues - first tea partiers are pretty much consistent in demographics as the population at large: http://www.gallup.com/poll/127181/tea-partiers-fairly-mainstream-demographics.aspx - on the other hand, some like the New York Times have found that Tea Partiers tend to be wealthier and more educated - http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/15/us/politics/15poll.html

Of course the inconsistency here is that those like Christian would have you believe that the tea partiers are automatons who serve the Koch brothers. The problem with this view of course and what you're saying is that the Koch brothers are on the record as being (adamantly) against the Patriot Act, and for gay marriage.